Wire stretcher



May 24; 1960 w. J. GREUTMAN ETAL 2,937,851

WIRE STRETCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 20. 1958 QM. al

, bm. mm.

IN VEN TORS M//LL/AM j GREurMA/v HTHA /VELL/E GREU Mg/gg.

ATTDRN EYS May 24, 1960 w. J. GREUTMAN ErAL 2,937,851

WIRE STRETCl-IER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1958 l hv n SIP l N VEN TOR` l'V/L L/AM J GREUTMA/v ATTO R N EYS MARTHA NELL/E G95 Unir-@d Safes- Panf il WIRE STRETCHER William J. Greutman and MarthaNellie Greutman,

' both of Miller, Nebr.

-File'a May zo, 195s, ser. No. 736,525

1 claim. (c1. 251-71) This invention relates to a device for use in stretching vWire such as barbed' wire used in making fences or the like.v

This invention is an improvement over the wire stretchers vshown in prior Patents Nos. 2,519,832 and 1,792,535.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved wire stretcher'wherein there, is provided a means for permitting thedevice to be released so that the carrier or movable frame section can be let back one notch or tooth at a time or else the carrier can' be released for movement-along a plurality of the teeth or notches.

AAnother object of the invention is to provide a wire stretcher which is an improvement over the wire stretchers shown in prior Patents Nos.` 2,519,832 and 1,792,535, in that there is provided a pawl which is mounted in a unique manner, and wherein there is further provided a member or piece for coaction with a movable dog so that the wire stretcher will operate more efficiently and will give better performance and longer use under ield conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire `stretcher which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages .will be apparent during the course of the following description.

Inthe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to Vdesignate like parts throughout the same.

' `Figure 1 is an elevational View of the wire stretcher of the present invention showing barbed wire connected thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of the wire stretcher of the present invention and illustrating the pawl and support piece or body member. Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of vFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating certain constructional details of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Y* Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of 'Figure 4.

i Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the wire stretcher of the present invention, and itwill be seen that the improved wire stretcher 10 includes a bar or rack 11 which is provided with a plurality of teeth or notches 12, Figure 1. The numeral 13 indi- 4 cates a clamp which is mounted on an end of the bar 11, and the clamp 13 includes a stationary base 14 which is secured in any suitable manner to the adjacent end portion of the bar 11. A stationary jaw 15 is secured as for example by means of securing elements 16 to the ,stationary base 14, and a movable jaw 17 is mounted for movementy towards and away from the stationary jaw 15 whereby wire suchV as the wire 19 can be gripped therebetween. The numeral 18 indicates a support piece that is secured to the bar 11 in any suitable manner, as

2,937,851 `Patented May 24, '1

to the support piece 18, FigureV 1.

` There is'further provided a carrier which is indicated generally by the numeral 25, and the Vcarrier 25 is adjustably or slidably connected to the bar 11. The carrier 25 includes 'rst and second spaced parallel plates 26 and 27.` The numeral 28 indicates a manually operable operator which includes a main hand engaging portion 29, and the operator 28 further includes a pair of spaced apart legs 30 which straddle the plates 26 and 27. The numeral 31 indicates'a pivot pin which extends between or through the pair of legs 30 and through the pair of plates 26 and 27, and the pivot pin 31 also extends through a body member 32, Figure 2. The body mem ber 32 is mounted between the pair of plates 26 and 27, and it will be seen that the body member 32 includes a flat surface 33 which is arranged contiguous to the teeth 12. The body member 32 further includes anincli'ned surface 34 and a rounded surface 35 which terminates in a cut-away portion 36 that defines a shoulder 37. The numeral 38 indicates a dog which is mounted for coaction with the bodymember 32, and the dog 38 includes an end portion 39 that is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the teeth 12. The dog 38 further includes a recessed curved portion '40 for coaction with the.surfaces 35 and 34 of the body member 32 as for example r`as shown in the drawings. A pin 41 pivotally connects the legs 30 of the operator 28 to the dog 38.

Extending outwardly from the plate 26 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith'is a lug 42, and a coil spring 43 has one end connected to the lug 42, while the other end of the coil spring 43 is anchored to a pin 44 which extends from the dog 38.

y The improved Wire stretcher of the present invention further includes apawl which is indicated generally by the numeral 45, and the pawl 45`is pivotally mounted betweenthe pair of plates 26 and 27 by means 'of a pivot pin 46. The -pawl 45 has a shank 47 extendingv outwardly therefromfand a coil spring 48 hasone end Vconnected to the shank 47, while the other end `of the coil spring 48 is anchored to the plate 27 as at 49. The pawl 45 is shaped to include a curved end portion 50 and a pointed end 51, and the pointed end 51 is mounted formovement into and out of engagement with the teeth 12. The pawl 45 is also provided with an arcuate recess 52 which defines a linger-engaging section or piece 53 whereby the pawl 45 can be readily manually shifted to the desired position.

The wire stretcher of the present invention further includes a stationary jaw 54 which is secured as by meansV of securing elements 55 to the plate 27, anda movable jaw 56 is arranged for coaction with the stationary jaw 54. For moving the jaw 56 into or out ofV opened or closed position there is provided a manually movable lever 57. The lever 57 is pivotally connected to the plate 26 by means of thev pivot pin 59, and the lever 57 is secured to the movable jaw 56 as at58. The

numeral 60 indicates a coil springr which has one end connected to the lever 57 as at 61, While the other end of the coil spring 60 is anchored to the lug 42, Figure l.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a wire stretcher which is an improvement over the wire stretchers shown in prior Patents Nos. 2,519,832 and 1,792,535. According to the present invention, wire such as the barbed wire 19 is adapted to belampd between the jaws 15 and 17, and the spring '24 maintains the jaw 17 in clamping engagement as shown in .spense 1 from the jaws and 17. Another portion 'of the wire 19 is adapted to be clamped between the stationary jaw 54 and the movable jaw 56, and these various jaws may be provided with teeth so as to increase the gripping ability thereof. With a portion of the barbed wire 19 between the jaws 54 and 56, it will be seen that the spring 60 will urge the jaw 56 into clamping or locking relationship with respect to the jaw 54 so that the wire 19 will not accidentally work loose from between the jaws 54 and 56. Then, to tighten the wire, as for example when a fence is being constructed, it is only necessary to manually move the operator 28 and this movement of the operator 28 is accomplished by gripping the portion 29 and working the operator 28 back and forth. It is to be noted that the operator 28 is pivotally connected to the plates 26 and 27 of the carrier 25 by means of the pivot pin 31, and the dog 38 is arranged so that as the operator 28 is manually `oscillated and moved back and forth, the pointed end 39 of the dog 38 will engage the teeth or notches 12 so that'the carrier will be shifted along the bar 11 and this will have `the effect of tightening the wire 19 which is clamped between the jaws.

It will further be seen that according to the present invention the pawl 45 is provided, and the pawl 45 is retained immobile in either the solid line position shown in Figure 4 or the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 by means of the coil spring 48. Thus, the spring 43 functions as an off-center spring so as to retain Vthe pawl 45 stationary in either of its adjusted positions. The spring 43 retains the pointed end 39 of the dog 38 in engagement with the teeth 12. It is to be noted that when the carrier 25 is to be backed off, as for example when tension on the portion of the wire 19 between the jaws 54 and 56 is to be released, then it is only necessary to shift the pawl 45 from the solid line position shown in Figure 4 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 whereby the operator 28 can be moved to a position contiguous to the bar 11 so that the end of the dog 38 will move out of the teeth 12 whereby the carrier 25 can be shifted along the bar 11 away from the clamp 13.

The pawl 45 is set so as to include the pointed end 51 which engages the teeth 12 when the pawl 45 is in the position shown in Figure 2. The pawl 45 is further provided with the recessed area 52 which defines the finger-engaging portion 53 and this finger-engaging portion 53 provides the means whereby the pawl 45 can be readily shifted back and forth about the pivot pin 45, as for example the pawl 45 can be moved to either of the solid or dotted line positions shown in Figure 4 as desired.

There is further provided according to the present invention the body member 32 which has the flat surface 33 that bears against the teeth 12 so that there will be less wear on the parts such as the dog and teeth. In other Words the body member 32 is shaped to include the rounded surface 35 which'coacts with the recessed surface 48 of the dog 38 so that a highly efficient bearing surface is provided between the dog, body member and teeth so that movement of the parts along the bar 11 is greatly facilitated and the operation of the device is made more smooth. Thus, the member 32 functions as a bearing member and provides a fulcrum for the dog 38 as the dog works back and forth on its pivot pin 41.

When the wire 19 is to be released from the jaws 54 and 56, the lever 57 can be pivoted on the pin 59 whereby the jaw 56 will move away from the jaw 54 suii'iciently so as to permit the wire to Abe loosened or removed.

The pawl 45 permits greater control of the device when it is being used, and this pawl permits the device to be backed off gradually and permits easier release. If the wire is too tight, the pawl 45 permits release of the device a small amount at a time. The pawl 45 is provided with the counterbalance spring 48 and the provision of the pawl 45 insures that the wire will not be too tight so that damage to fences or the like will be prevented when the wire is being installed. The device locks itself automatically and can be readily released and it is safe to use. With the pawl 45, the wire stretcher can be let back one notch or tooth at a time or else it can be released all at once. In use, the surface 40 coacts with or engages the surface 35 when the stretcher is being released. Also, lwhen the stretcher is being released the end 62 of the dog 38 strikes the shoulder 37 as shown in Figure 4 so that the dog does not hit or strike the bar 11 as is the case in the prior patents. The parts are constructed so that the end 62 strikes the shoulder 37 before the operators hand hits the bar 11. As long as the wire is being engaged, the tension of the wire insures proper rotation or movement of the parts.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a device which can be used for handling wire such as barbed wire, and the present invention can be used as a stretcher and splicer. Thus, the device can be arranged in engagement with wire as shown in Figure 1 for example, so that it will take up slack on the wire and wherein the wire will be held in place so that a splice can be made, or the device can be used for stretching wire or for placing wire around a post or for any other desired purpose.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

We claim:

In a wire stretcher, a bar provided with a plurality of teeth, a clamp on one end of said bar and said clamp including a base secured to the end of the bar, a stationary jaw secured to the outer portion of said base, a movable jaw for coaction with said stationary jaw, a support piece secured to said bar, a spring pressed handle connected to said movable jaw and pivotally connected to said support piece, a carrier adjustably connected to said bar, said carrier including first and second spaced parallel plates arranged on opposite sides of the bar, an operator including a main hand engaging portion, said operator further including spaced apart legs straddling a portion of said plates, a pivot pin extending through said legs and plates, a body member interposed between said pair of plates and having said pivot pin extending therethrough, said body member including a flat surface arranged contiguous to said teeth, said body member further including an inclined surface yand a rounded surface terminating in a cut-away portion defining a shoulder, a dog having one end piv otally connected between said legs and said dog having an end mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the teeth on said bar, said dog including a recessed curved portion for engagement with the rounded portion of the body member, an end of said dog being mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the shoulder on the body member, a lug extending outwardly from said first plate, a coil spring having one end connected to said lug and its other end connected to said dog, a pawl movably mounted between said pair of plates, a pivot pin extending through said plates and pawl, a shank extending outwardly from one side of the pawl, a coil spring having one end connected to said shank and its other end connected to said second plate, said pawl including a curved end portion and a pointed having one end connected to said lever and its other end anchored to said lug.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Scott et al. Decpll, 1906 Ward Sept. 16, 19.19 

